Product liability attorneys are currently seeking out potential plaintiffs to bring Neurontin lawsuits. These Neurontin lawsuits allege that the drug manufacturers failed to warn the medical community and general public about the serious potential risks associated with taking Neurontin while pregnant. Medical professionals believe the medication, if used by pregnant women, can cause babies to be born with severe birth defects.

What is Neurontin?

Neurontin, generically known as gabapentin, is a widely used anticonvulsant medication. It is often prescribed by medical professionals to treat epileptic seizures as well as chronic nerve pain in patients suffering from shingles, diabetic neuropathy, trigeminal neuralgia, peripheral neuropathy, multiple sclerosis, and sciatic never pain. The medication is traditionally used in adults and children over the age of 12 but children between 3-12 years old can be prescribed the medication so long as it is mixed with a proper combination of other medications. Doctors sometimes prescribe Neurontin for off-label uses such as restless leg syndrome, insomnia, anxiety disorder, and bipolar disorder.

Neurontin works by stabilizing electrical activity in the brain. The medication is thought to reduce the release of glutamate, a neurotransmitter found in the nerve cells. Glutamate is thought to be a neurotransmitter that serves as a nerve-exciting agent. Glutamate also works to transmit pain signals between the brain and the rest of the nervous system.

Birth Defects Caused by Neurontin

Recently Neurontin has been linked to causing birth defects in children whose mothers took the medication while they were pregnant. Neurontin birth defects include cleft palate, heart defects, skull malformations, bone malformations, hydroureter (an abnormality in the opening of the urethra in boys), congenital defects, spina bifida, and extra fingers or toes.

The FDA has labeled Neurontin a category C medication. This means that animal reproductive studies show that the medication has an adverse effect of the animal fetus. The category C classification notes that no well controlled studies exist concerning the effects of the medication on humans. The FDA label suggests that pregnant women should only use the medication if the benefits of taking the medication outweighs the risks.

A study performed in Denmark reviewed the births of over 837,000 infants between 1996 and 2008. The studied found that a 3.4 percent birth defect rate existed in infants whose mothers had used anticonvulsants while pregnant. Unfortunately for the study, only 1,532 women had taken Neurontin or similar anticonvulsants during their first trimester (when it is most expected to affect the fetus). According to scientists, the sample size of this study was too small to determine Neurontin was safe to take during pregnancy.

Overview of Neurontin Lawsuits

Attorneys are currently looking into filing lawsuits against Neurontin manufacturers. Neurontin lawsuits will likely allege that the drug manufacturers violated consumer protection laws and failed to warn the public about risks associated with the medication. Awards and settlements from these lawsuits may help victims pay both past and future medical bills as well as serve as a small step in compensating victims for the pain and suffering the victims have endured. Neurontin lawsuits also serve to hold pharmaceutical manufacturers accountable for their actions.